The BYD Electric Bus successfully completed the Altoona structural integrity testing program in a fast 116 track days with full reports published soon.

“The Altoona staff was professional and accommodating, guiding BYD through the process and ensuring all testing met the Federal standards. The FTA were supportive of our efforts to ensure that this vehicle, the first 40-foot, all-electric bus to be tested met the North American standards and was properly tested within the guidelines,” said BYD Motors President Stella Li. “We believe that our 40-foot bus is one of the most structurally sound transit buses on roads today. Yet like all manufacturers, our engineers found ways, through this testing, to make improvements to ensure the sort of long-lasting quality BYD has become known for.”

BYD’s electric bus has no transmission, clutches or drivetrain but instead has two robust in-wheel-drive motors powered by batteries on board the bus.

The 40-foot BYD Electric Bus is just the first of three different size options that will be offered to the U.S. for 2014/2015 deliveries. Next at Altoona will be the 60-foot articulated BYD all-electric bus.

Jean-Marc Landry will take over as CEO, while William Trainer will transition from his CEO role to undertake the roles and responsibilities of president and remain as a member of the board of directors.

Staff informed the board that this is intended to be the last diesel bus purchase that SamTrans will make because the Transit District would eventually like to convert its current fleet to electric buses in the future.